If you've been bombarded with messages asking about your extravagant New Year's Eve plans, only to reply with a quiet 'nothing much,' you are firmly in the majority. A recent survey reveals a significant shift in how Indians, especially the younger generations, are choosing to ring in the new year—prioritizing comfort and personal peace over crowded parties and forced revelry.
The Numbers Don't Lie: Home is Where the Heart (and Remote) Is
A survey conducted by the social connection app Sunny polled 3,000 Indians aged 18 and above. The findings are clear: the loud, party-centric narrative is not the reality for most. The data shows that only 24% of respondents actually want to welcome the New Year in the company of others at a party or event.
So, what is everyone else doing? A substantial 35% are planning a cozy night in with streaming services like Netflix. Another 20% intend to simply go to bed early, while 10% plan to scroll through social media. Even among Gen Z, often seen as the most socially active group, the trend holds. Only 36% said they would head out, with a larger 46% preferring to stay in with Netflix or social media.
Embracing the 'No-Plan' Plan: It's Okay to Opt Out
This shift represents a conscious rejection of social pressure. Professionals like product manager Jainish Shah have experienced the initial pang of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) when asked about year-end plans. He shared on LinkedIn that after pausing, he reminded himself, "it’s okay to not have a plan for the year-end." He eloquently summed up the sentiment: "Not everything needs a roadmap. Not every break needs productivity... Sometimes, no plan is also a plan."
This isn't an anti-party stance but a pro-comfort one. Many are choosing to honor the transition of the year in a personally meaningful, quiet way with close family or even solo. The pressure to have a photogenic, eventful celebration is being replaced by the desire to enter the new year well-rested and intentional, rather than exhausted and hungover.
The Fading Ritual of New Year's Resolutions
This trend of intentionality extends beyond December 31st. The classic "New year, new me" resolution is also losing its sheen for many Millennials and Gen Z. As self-mastery coach Tiare Tawera observes, "Most change is trend-driven, not identity-driven... When change is borrowed from the feed, it disappears when the feed moves on." This explains why many resolutions are abandoned by February.
Instead, people are choosing to work on themselves year-round, initiating change when they feel a genuine need, not because the calendar dictates it. Abbey Phaneuf, a 22-year-old marketing associate, points to the unsustainable pressure from social media trends about transformations. She is skipping resolutions this year, "trusting that real change doesn’t need a countdown."
If you're planning a quiet night in, here are some popular no-plan ideas:
- A Themed Movie Marathon: From classics like When Harry Met Sally to Bollywood favorites like Dil Chahta Hai or Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
- A Solo Dance Party: Blast your favorite music, from Himesh Reshammiya to Jagjit Singh, with zero judgment.
- Get Lost in a Book: Pair a great novel with a hot beverage and some digital detox.
- Sleep or Stream Guilt-Free: The joy is in the freedom—wake up fresh on January 1st or let your movie marathon roll into the early hours.
The ultimate takeaway? How you choose to spend the turn of the year does not define you. In 2025, for a vast majority of Indians, the best plan is the one that brings genuine peace and comfort.
